Microsoft Access 2002

But that's not where it ends. You aren't limited to to the Jet DB. In fact, depending on available drivers (often if not always freely available) you can use almost any database system, SQL systems included. When one says SQL systems, they are often speaking of client server type systems like proprietary Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and Sybase, to name a few, or the open source systems like MySQL and PostgreSQL, again, to name but two. These SQL systems are what one needs to build scalable applications that will host many users and hundreds of thousands or more table records. You can use Access to prototype the app, and then often use the Access development environment as the front end for building forms and reports for SQL data. Many using this type of system have great praise for Access.

The other way to use Access is to use it as a complete solution. Here, you are limited, but serious Access pros will say many limitations can be handled with the right design and/or coding. That may be true, but if you are developing for many users and anticipate a large database, Access as a complete solution is probably a bit out of its league. On the other hand, Access is great for desktop database functions. If a small, or even mid-sized firm needs for example, a contact management system that no off the shelf software allows, Access would be a good idea. If you are currently using Microsoft Excel for a database system, Access would perform the tasks much better, and once you get familiar with database design and terminology, the learning curve for reports and queries over Excel isn't that great. Excel is great for calculations and spreadsheets, but comes up a bit short on being a database.

Access was sort of a joked about product when it first came out. But that was when desktop systems designed in Clipper or FoxPro ruled. Once Access started to mature, its user base expanded as Windows apps took over. Now, with SQL databases being the trend, Access front ends are still put to use. Access isn't quite as good an app as Excel, which is in my mind the best application Microsoft has ever developed. However, with the serious bugs in Word, and the shortcomings of Outlook, Access is narrowing the gap with Excel as a really good application that a lot of people need that there are few competitors to.

The latest version, Access 2002 comes with improved wizards that are actually helpful. I created a small application in a day with just this product and the help text. It did not require much code (4 navigation macros that anyone with basic programing skills could write). We also flawlessly moved this application to a Windows 2000 server running IIS for an intranet.

Don't expect the best response time from Access 2002. A web query through what is called a "data access" page takes about 30 seconds on a 200,000 record file on a server with half a gig of memory and no other applications running.

Some of the other ease of use enhancements are better button control and improved macro coding, easier navigation throughout the product and improved help text with step by step procedures on how to create specific examples.